Pressure-operated valve mechanism



March 24, 1931. PLATT PRESSURE OPERATED VALVE MECHANISM Filed Aug. 25,1950 flc'zrry E4 P111232 INVENTOR M162 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 24, 1931PATENT FFICE HARRY E. PLATT, OF OTTUMWA, IOWA PRESSURE-OPERATED VALVEMECHANISM Application filed August 533, 1930. Serial No. 477,392.

My invention relates to improvements in pressure operated valvemechanisms, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, andarrangements herein described and 6 claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a pressure operated valvemechanism of the type associated with signaling devices and in whichcertain improvements are embodied over the structure disclosed in mycopending application, Serial No. 451,1 la.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described in whichmeans is provided whereby friction is reduced to a minimum, therebyproviding a device which is relatively sensitive.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described in whichthe usual rubber diaphragm is entirely eliminated and in which fewmoving parts are necessary.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described which maybe placed in various convenient locations within, let us say, the cab ofa locomotive, and in which the device is constructed in such a mannerthat an efiicient operation is attained, regardless of temperaturechanges, air currents, and the like.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described in whichnovel means is utilized whereby a fluid under compression may becontrolled for signaling purposes or for establishing communicationbetween individuals at various distances.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described in whichthe danger of accidental operation due to vibrations is entirelyeliminated.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming partof this application, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of my device,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing an installation embodying myinvention.

In carrying out my invention, I make use a body portion 1 provided withcompartments 2 and 3 which communicate with openings 4E and 5,respectively. A pipe 6 may be secured within the opening 4 which isthreaded for receiving the threaded end portion of the pipe while a pipe7 may be similiarly secured within the threaded opening 5. The bodyportion 1 is provided with a partition 8 which establishes thecompartments 2 and 3. The partition is provided with an opening 9through which a stem 10 projects. The stem is provided with a valve 11which is rigidly secured thereto. The valve normally lies in sealedengagement with a Valve seat 12 associated with the opening 9. The lowerportion of the stem 10 is triangular in cross section for a purposewhich will be explained later.

A cylinder 13 is provided with a threaded extension 1d having an opening15 therethrough. The threaded extension is secured within a threadedopening 16 in the body portion 1. The stem 10 passes through the opening15 and is provided with a piston 17 which is disposed within thecylinder 18. The cylinder is provided with an exteriorly threadedportion 18 for receiving a connecting member 19. The latter is providedwith a threaded opening 20 for receiving one end of a pipe 21. Thepiston 17 is of course firmly secured in an air-tight manner to the endof the stem 10 as is shown in Figure 1. The arrangement is such that thepiston may be moved within the cylinder for lifting the valve 11 fromits seat.

In Figure i I have shown diagrammatically an installation embodying myinvention. The valve mechanism shown in Figure 1 is indicated at 22. Thevalve mechanism is associated with an auxiliary air tank 23 through themedium of the pipe 6. The pipe 7 is provided with an air strainer 24.Such strainers are wellknowninthe art and therefore require no detaileddescription. The pipe 6 is connected with a whistle 25 which may bepositioned in any desirable location within a cab of a locomotive. Itwill be understood, however,

that while I have defined my invention as being used in connection withlocomotives, the invention is equally applicable to other arts wheresignaling devices are employed.

The pipe 21 is associated with the signal pipe. This pipe is a separateline 'WlllCll extends throughout the entire train. The sig nal pipefunctions as a conduit for air under pressure. The air for operating thesignal apparatus is taken from the main reservoir of the locomotive. Thepressure is ordinarily reduced to approximately forty pounds forsignaling purposes. Such reduction is brought about through the mediumof an air signal reducing valve. These valves are of course standardequipment and are therefore well known in the art.

A pipe connects the pipe 21 with the pipe l and is pro v 1(l@(l with achecr. valve 2 l. The latter permits air to flow to the auxiliaryreservoir as indicated by the arrows 28, but prevents air from flowingfrom the reservoir in an opposite direction through the pipe 26. Checkvalves of this type are also well known in the art.

In operation, the whistle may be caused to function by causing adischarge of air from the signal line. The discharge of the air is madethrough the medium of a discharge valve. Such discharge of air willcause an immediate reduction of pressure within the signal line. Undernormal conditions, the air pressure throughout the signal line, the pipe21, the pipe 26, the reservoir 23, and the pipe 7, will becomeequalized. At this time, the piston 1? is positioned as shown inFigure 1. The valve 11 is now disposed upon its seat so that thecompartment 2 is sealed with respect to the compartment 3. lVhen,however, a certain amount of air is discharged from the signal line, thepressure within this line is reduced. 1 The piston is immediately movedfor lifting the valve 11 from its seat. As soon as the pressure of theair within the signal line has been reduced, the air from the auxiliaryreservoir 23 lifts the piston 17 by reason of the fact that this air isunder a greater pressure than the reduced air pressure in the signalline. The air from the auxiliary tank has free access to the pistonsince the stem 10 is irregularly formed, as previously mentioned. Assoon as the piston has been lifted sufficiently far to move the valve 11from its seat, the air from the auxiliary tank will flow through theopening 8 and through the whistle 25 for operating the latter.

An important feature in connection with my invention is the fact that Thave provided a valve mechanism in which the usual rubber diaphra m isentirely eliminated. he entire structure is formed from metal. Fewmoving parts are employed. The valve mechanism is constructed in such amanner that temperature variations, air currents and the like, do notinfluence the efiicient operation of the apparatus. The inventionembodies an additional important feature in that the whistle may berepeatedly operated at short intervals. Whenever the pressure in thesignal line is reduced, the pressure in the auxiliary reservoir will ofcourse be greater than the air pressure in the line. This differentialpressure permits the whistle to be operated.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described having a cction with a main reservoirand comng a valve mechanism having a connec- 4111 with an auxiliary airreservoir, a connecion with a signal line and a connection withsignaling device, said valve mechanism comrising in part a cylinderhaving piston means disposed therein, and means for placing the cylinderin communication with a signal line having air under pressure, wherebypiston means will be operated for releasing air from the auxiliaryreservoir for operthe signaling device when the air pressure in thesignal line is reduced, said piston ans coacting with said cylinder toprovide o e Pr g cylinder.

2. A device of the type described having a connection with a signalingdevice and com prising a hollow body portion having a partition thereinfor providing a pair of compartments, said partition being provided withan opening, a cylinder associated with said body portion, amovable-piston disposed within the cylinder and having a stem passingthrough the opening in said partition, and a valve carried by the stemand arranged for closing said opening, said movable piston and saidcylinder coacting to provide an air seal between said piston and saidcylinder, said stein bein adapted to pass fluid between said stem andsaid valve.

3. A device of the type described comprising a valve mechanism having aconnection with a main line reservoir, a connection with a signal line,a connection with an auxiliary air reservoir and a connection with asignaling device, said valve mechanism comprising in part a cylinderhaving piston means disposed therein, means for placing the cylinder incommunication with a signal line having air under pressure, whereby thepiston means will be operated for releasing air from the auxiliaryreservoir for operating the signaling device when the air pressure inthe signal line is reduced, and means for check-ing the flow of the airfrom the auxiliary reservoir to the signal line, said piston meanscoact-ing with said cylinder to provide a substantially air-tight airseal between said main reservoir connection and said connection withsaid signaling device.

A device of the type described comprising a valve mechanism having a.connection a i air seal between said piston means and said with a mainair reservoir, a connection with an auxiliary air reservoir and aconnection with a signaling device, said valve mechanism comprising inpart a. cylinder having piston means disposed therein, means for placingthe cylinder in communication with a signal line having air underpressure, whereby the piston means will be operated for releasing airfrom the auxil ary reservoir for operating the sig naling device whenthe air pressure in the signal line is reduced, means for checking theflow of the air from the auxiliary reservoir to the signal line, and airstraining means positioned between the auxiliary reservoir and the valvemechanism, said piston means and said cylinder coacting to provide asubstantially air-tight air seal between said signal line and saidsignal device, one of said coinpartments having a connection with saidsignaling device forming the one exhaust opening of said compartment.

HARRY E. PLATT.

